Sydney Skyline

"Is there real art in photography? It depends upon the individual who uses the camera. His vision, imagination, creative ability and his skill to use the camera lens and his technique in the production of the finished print. If the worker is thus capable then indeed will his photographic work bear the stamp of the artist".

Harold Cazneaux letter to Jack Cato, 12 March 1951
NLA MS 5416

Pictorial photograhy had spread amongst a small group of Sydney photographers. Until the mid 1910s they had been responding to a movement that dealt with an alien northern climate, landscape and light. But now they began to seek a new direction that would advance the art of pictorial photography within an Australian context. Cazneaux recognised the problems of the early movement.

"Australia had not yet clearly seen the real and true Australian sunlight - but there were a few Australian workers who had seen the "light" and who were striving to establish a real Australian school of thought and action".

Harold Cazneaux letter to Jack Cato
NLA MS 5416

As a result of these deliberations, the Sydney Camera Circle "declaration" was drawn up and signed on 28th November 1916. The small group of six photographers included Cazneaux, Cecil Bostock, James Stening, W.S. White, Malcolm McKinnon and James Paton. He later noted:

" … these photographers pledged to work and to advance pictorial photography and to show our own Australia in terms of sunlight rather than those of greyness and dismal shadows".

Harold Cazneaux letter to Jack Cato
NLA MS 5416

Waiting for the Ferry aka McMahons Point Ferry, Lavender Bay Darling Harbour, Sydney
Waiting for the Ferry aka McMahons Point Ferry,
Lavender Bay

1909 Sydney. Gelatin silver photograph
23 x 25.6 (NLA Accession # C25-14)
nla.pic-an2346085
Darling Harbour, Sydney
no date. Bromoil
22.4 x 26.3 (NLA Accession # C18-1)
nla.pic-an2383841-2
Before the Race
Before the Race
c. 1920 Sydney Harbour
. Gelatin silver photograph
36.8 x 25 (NLA Accession # C18-3)
nla.pic-an2383849
Departure aka When Liners Tear Themselves Away
28th February 1928 Sydney. Gelatin silver photograph
31.5 x 35.5 (NLA Accession # C18-2)
RMS Otranto at Woolloomooloo, Sydney
nla.pic-an2383846
The Site of the Harbour Bridge
Sydney Skyline
pre 1931 from Darling Harbour. Bromoil
16.3 x 29.7 (NLA Accession # C25-4)
nla.pic-an2345942-2
The Site of the Harbour Bridge
1926 Sydney. Chloro-bromide
38 x 31.2 (NLA Accession # C13-1)
nla.pic-an2381154-2
Arch in the Sky Circular Quay West aka Circular Quay West and the Harbour Bridge
Arch in the Sky
1930 Sydney. Gelatin silver photograph
x (NLA Accession # C13-4)
nla.pic-an2381164
Circular Quay West aka Circular Quay West and the Harbour Bridge
1920 Sydney. Bromoil
38 x 31.2 (NLA Accession # C13-2)
nla.pic-an2381157-2
Harbour Bridge, Moonlight Wharfies, Circular Quay, 1910 aka Sydney Waterfront
Harbour Bridge, Moonlight
c. 1930 Sydney. Gelatin silver photograph (Kodura Etching Brown)
30.3 x 28.5 (NLA Accession # C13-5)
nla.pic-an2381166-1
Wharfies, Circular Quay, 1910 aka Sydney Waterfront
1910 Sydney. Gelatin silver photograph
24.2 x 28.7 (NLA Accession # C24-9)
nla.pic-an2384423
The Ship’s Cat Balloon Seller
The Ship’s Cat
c. 1912 Sydney. Gelatin silver photograph
32.9 x 25.9 (NLA Accession # C15-4)
nla.pic-an2381209
Balloon Seller
c. 1920 Sydney. Bromoil
28.6 x 20.2 (NLA Accession # C24-3)
nla.pic-an2384417
Arch of Steel Little Strangers aka Waifs aka Children of the Waterfront
Arch of Steel
c. 1930. Sydney. Gelatin silver photograph
33.2 x 25.4 (NLA Accession # C13-6)
nla.pic-an2381168
Little Strangers aka Waifs aka Children of the Waterfront
pre 1916 Miller’s Point, Sydney. Chloro-bromide
28.4 x 22.7 (NLA Accession # C16-5)
nla.pic-an2383805

I Sydney Skyline I Steam & Sunshine I Sydney, Old & New I
I
Spirit of Endurance I Frensham I The Home I
I
The Wheel of Youth I The Cazneaux Family of Photographers I

I The Catalogue I Exhibition Home Page I

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Last updated 16 December
2002